Disclaimer: As much as I wish it were so, I do not own or have rights to any part of the Harry Potter series or related entities.
Number Four Privet Drive
On any other summer night the escalating silence would appear peaceful to the residents of Privet Drive, but there was something in the air that made it not quite right. Tree braches soundlessly swayed, though there was no breeze to be found, and the air tasted like cold salt water, even though it was the middle of July and Privet Drive was quite a ways off from any shore line. As days, for no know reason, rapidly became shorter, the streets began to look more forlorn. And while the crime rate had Little Whinginghad been one of the lowest in the country for over a decade, parents conjured up excuses to keep their children from playing football after five and usually added two or more deadbolts to the doors as well.
Animals seemed to be the most affected. There were several occasions where children had been bitten by their own pet snakes, and after numerous swelled arms and legs, they were all taken to their local hospitals only to discover there wasn't a single antidote able to treat their bites. Owls were perched everywhere, in trees, roofs, and even crowded telephone wires from time to time, which did make it especially difficult for the telephone company workers who were now continuously sent to fix the broken wires. Oddly, an orange tabby cat, with no known owner, had been spotted on the premise of number four Privet Drive, which of course was ridiculous since Petunia Dursley abhorred street vermin and would never tolerate one on their property, let alone give in a reason to return.
And though no one ever dared to mention it, everyone had a nagging feeling they couldn't let go of about that Potter boy. They had all hear stories and pitied the poor boy- orphaned and so misguided he needed to be sent off to a correctional school each year. Not that the disturbances where his fault of course. Just that there wasn't something quite right with the boy to begin with. No one had actually seen him since he arrived at number four Privet Drive. He mainly kept to himself. In fact, no one would have known he was back at all if Petunia had not cancelled her dinner with Mrs. Polkiss. She wasn't entertaining any visitors in her house at all right now, which, indeed, was very unlike her as now her supply of gossip had been greatly reduced.
As midnight approached, a tense stillness enveloped the neighborhood. No creatures dared to disturb the thick air. The streetlamps cast down yellow pools of light, only making the street seem more deserted. All the lights in the houses of Privet Drive had been extinguished, except for one flickering light in the second bedroom of number four Privet Drive, where Harry Potter sat waiting.